Driver, California Area students injured in van accident
A school van driver and two California Elementary School students, who are the driver’s granddaughters, were injured Tuesday morning when the van crashed into a tree in Long Branch.
The accident occurred around 7:45 a.m. According to Southwest Regional police Chief John Hartman, the van operated by Joyce Matty, 61, of West Pike Run Township, crossed over Honor Street and struck a tree, causing the vehicle to roll onto its side. Hartman said the cause remains unknown because police have not been able to interview Matty.
“We’re trying to acquire as much information as we can. We contacted the family at the hospital and we will be getting more information from them. We haven’t had an update on her condition. We know she sustained head injuries. She was pretty confused,” Hartman said.
Hartman said the driver and the two children, ages 6 and 9, were initially taken to Monongahela Valley Hospital in Carroll Township. Matty was then transferred to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh. One child was referred to Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh as a precaution, Hartman said. The other child was released.
School district Superintendent Linda Mancini said rescue workers had to cut the driver from the van.
Frank Ricco, owner of Brownsville Bus Lines, said the bus contractor immediately sent someone to the scene and sent another van to pick up the four students Matty was about to pick up when the accident occurred.
Mancini said the two children in the van are the driver’s grandchildren and don’t normally ride the school van that crashed. Neither Mancini nor Ricco knew why the children were in the van Tuesday. One is in kindergarten and the other is in third grade at California Elementary School, Mancini said.
Mancini said the district was notified about the accident by Washington County 911 and the superintendent-elect, Brian Jackson, went to the scene.
According to Washington County 911, the Allenport, Roscoe and California volunteer fire departments responded to the accident, as did the Southwest Regional police.